IIRC BZN was always closed more often than LYE due to the Thames Valley Bowl it sits in....creating a foggy atmosphere.....!!!
My Mrs flew back from MPN to be diverted to MAN because BZN was fogbound...!!!
As for LYE becoming a super base for all choppers,, the local rag has it as Project Belvedere (good name for a chopper base project) !!!!
Cleaner is always a good source of info...after she'd be out of job if it was true about LYE closing !!!